CHARM is leading the call for a fully independent public enquiry into the abuse in services run by Great Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust.
CHARM
We are asking supporters to become Signatories in support for our call,
You can read and support our statement here
It has come to CHARM’s attention that the management at Edenfield have removed mobile phones from all patients on wards at the Edenfield site, As of 13 October. We believe a blanket ban of this nature is a breach of Article 8 of the European Human Rights Convention. The right to a private and family life.
Such practices also create environments that further alienate patients from the outside world. This is not a route to recovery. The failings at Edenfield happened because there was a lack of oversight and openness. When a ‘behind closed doors’ culture of secrecy is implemented, it makes abuse more likely to happen. Meanwhile, workers have been allowed to keep their phones. This is unfair.
We fear these decisions are driven by the Trust’s desire to control communications about Edenfield rather than in the interests of patients, their well-being and their recovery.
Can the trust not see how frightening and alienating must it be for patients, to be unable to communicate easily with their family and friends? And How upsetting stressful it is for relatives?
This action by the Trust came the day before Neil Thwaite is formally required to respond to the Equality and Human Rights Commission on what action the Trust is taking immediately to address the potential human rights abuses at Edenfield Centre. (go here for full story).
The MP Christian Wakeford has already highlighted in the House of Commons that ‘the families of patients featured in the programme had told him they were “still being blocked from contacting their relatives, who are desperate to move out of the Edenfield Centre and some are even in seclusion now”.
Further repressive rules will only increase the alienation and lack of trust in the service that is currently felt by communities in Manchester. Does the trust not want to build bridges?
At the health scrutiny committee on Wednesday deputy Chief Executive Andrew Maloney stated “We are wholeheartedly committed to do whatever it takes to put right these wrongs and to preventing them from happening again.”
If Maloney believes in what he said this decision must be overturned immediately.
Further injustices must not be inflicted on the patients at Edenfield.
14th October 2022
It’s madness this happened yesterday, my son rang me 4 times off the ward payphone,. I rang the ward and they said it is to protect staff and patients, very laughable, definitely not funny, however when patients go of the ward they can then use their phones, first major policy.
My first policy would be a care plan.